The Early History of the Deccan (Parts I–XI) v1.c8.s7.2

v1.c8.s7.2

At the time of her sad bereavement, Prabhāvatiguptā, the crowned queen of Rudrasena, was a young and inexperienced widow of less than twenty-five. She was, however, a courageous lady; she took the reins of administration firmly into her hands as regent for the infant king and steered the ship of state safely past all rocks and shoals during a long regency lasting about twenty years. Vindhyasena and Pravarasena II of the Basim branch were her contemporaries during this period, but it does not seem that she relied upon their help during the trying years of her regency. She may even have suspected that the rulers of the Vākāṭaka branch at Basim would try to exploit the years of regency in order to aggrandize themselves at her cost. As was natural for a woman in her condition of widowhood, Prabhāvatiguptā relied exclusively on the help of her illustrious father Chandragupta II. The latter must obviously have paid her a personal visit of condolence after her bereavement and have then made special arrangements for the efficient administration of the Vākāṭaka kingdom during the regency of his daughter. A number of civil, military, and secretariat officers were transferred to Nandivardhana, the Vākāṭaka capital, from Pāṭaliputra;¹ they were doubtless invaluable and reliable counsellors for the dowager queen in all administrative affairs.